IMO 2009 · Problem 4

Let \(ABC\) be a triangle with \(AB = AC\). The angle bisectors of \(\angle CAB\) and \(\angle ABC\) meet the sides \(BC\) and \(CA\) at \(D\) and \(E\), respectively. Let \(K\) be the incentre of triangle \(ADC\). Suppose that \(\angle BEK = 45^\circ\). Find all possible values of \(\angle CAB\).

Official text of the problem. Official problem paper (PDF)

Answer

\[ \boxed{\angle CAB=60^\circ\quad\text{or}\quad90^\circ.} \]

Solution

Since \(AB=AC\), the angle bisector \(AD\) is also a median and an altitude. After scaling and choosing coordinates, we may therefore write \[ D=(0,0),\qquad B=(-1,0),\qquad C=(1,0),\qquad A=(0,t), \] where \(t>0\). Put \(s=\sqrt{1+t^2}\), so \(AB=AC=s\).

The right triangle \(ADC\) has legs \(1,t\) and hypotenuse \(s\). Its inradius is \[ r=\frac{1+t-s}{2}=\frac{t}{1+t+s}>0. \] Since its incentre is at distance \(r\) from both coordinate axes, \[ K=(r,r). \] Meanwhile, the angle-bisector theorem in triangle \(ABC\) gives \[ \frac{AE}{EC}=\frac{AB}{BC}=\frac{s}{2}, \qquad\text{hence}\qquad E=\left(\frac{s}{s+2},\frac{2t}{s+2}\right). \]

To express the angle condition without introducing supplementary-angle possibilities, define \[ \mathbf u=(s+1,t),\qquad \mathbf v=\bigl(s-r(s+2),\,2t-r(s+2)\bigr). \] Then \[ \overrightarrow{EB}=-\frac{2}{s+2}\mathbf u, \qquad \overrightarrow{EK}=-\frac{1}{s+2}\mathbf v, \] so the angle between \(\mathbf u\) and \(\mathbf v\) is precisely \(\angle BEK\).

Let \(P=\mathbf u\cdot\mathbf v\) and \(\Delta=\det(\mathbf u,\mathbf v)\). Using \(s^2=1+t^2\) and \(2r=1+t-s\), we obtain \[ \begin{aligned} \Delta &=(s+2)\bigl(t+r(t-s-1)\bigr)\\ &=(s+2)t(t+1-s) =2tr(s+2)>0. \end{aligned} \] Also, since \(r(s+t+1)=t\), \[ \begin{aligned} P &=s(s+1)+2t^2-r(s+2)(s+t+1)\\ &=1+3t^2+s-t(s+2). \end{aligned} \]

For the angle \(\theta\) between these vectors, \(P=|\mathbf u||\mathbf v|\cos\theta\) and, because \(\Delta>0\), \(\Delta=|\mathbf u||\mathbf v|\sin\theta\). Thus \[ \angle BEK=45^\circ\quad\Longleftrightarrow\quad P=\Delta. \] Subtracting and factoring gives \[ \begin{aligned} P-\Delta &=1+3t^2+s-t(s+2)(t+2-s)\\ &=(t-1)\bigl(t^2+2t-1-(t+1)s\bigr). \end{aligned} \] Consequently, either \(t=1\), or \[ t^2+2t-1=(t+1)\sqrt{1+t^2}. \] In the latter case, squaring yields \[ 0=(t^2+2t-1)^2-(t+1)^2(1+t^2) =2t(t^2-3). \] Since \(t>0\), this forces \(t=\sqrt3\).

Both candidates satisfy the original angle condition: \(t=1\) makes the first factor of \(P-\Delta\) zero; for \(t=\sqrt3\), we have \(s=2\), which makes the second factor zero. In both cases \(\Delta>0\), so the angle is indeed \(45^\circ\).

Finally, in the right triangle \(ADC\), \[ \tan\angle DAC=\frac1t, \qquad \angle CAB=2\angle DAC. \] Thus \(t=1\) gives \(\angle CAB=90^\circ\), while \(t=\sqrt3\) gives \(\angle CAB=60^\circ\). Both correspond to nondegenerate triangles, completing the proof.

The solution was checked against the official IMO shortlist solutions.